Apparel Consumers Are Subscribing to a New Way of Shopping, Reports NPD
Port Washington, New York (PRWEB) July 31, 2017 -- Apparel subscription services, like Stitch Fix and Trunk Club, and introduction of Amazon’s Prime Wardrobe, are examples of the hottest new shopping channel in the swiftly evolving $217.6 billion U.S. apparel market*, reports The NPD Group, a leading global information company. The apparel market’s evolution is evidenced by the fact that both Amazon and the apparel subscription service, Stitch Fix, were among the top 10 retailers last year in terms of online apparel wallet share, according to NPD’s online receipt mining service, Checkout TrackingSM E-commerce.
“We have entered a new world of retail where the traditional leaders are faced with unconventional channel competition, and subscription services are the newest player,” said Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst, The NPD Group, Inc. “Consumers are more critical about the purchases they make today and no longer purchase just for the sake of purchasing. The personalized approach of subscription services complements the shift toward more prioritized spending.”
Subscription services are an up-and-coming opportunity, particularly in the fashion industry. In a recent survey, consumers told NPD about their interactions with and awareness of subscription box services. While only 15 percent of consumers have ordered subscription boxes, another 14 percent haven’t yet ordered them but plan to, and 35 percent don’t even know what these services are**.
The subscription method of shopping for apparel is still in its infancy, but its consumer reach is expanding. Stitch Fix, Trunk Club, and Le Tote subscription membership grew to nearly 5 percent of online shoppers, and their average annual spend per purchase increased 5 percent to $170, according to NPD’s Checkout Tracking E-commerce information. The Stitch Fix subscriber gave one-third of their online apparel wallet to Stitch Fix. Trunk Club subscribers gave 40 percent of their online apparel wallet to Trunk Club.
“There is a great deal of room to grow within the subscription model, and the competitive field will continue to expand as online retailers develop subscription services and options for auto-replenishment of fashion basics,” added Cohen. “This kind of innovation, delivering personalization and convenience, will continue to change the face of retail for fashion.”
Source: The NPD Group, Inc. / Checkout Tracking E-commerce
*Source: The NPD Group, Inc. / Consumer Tracking Service, 12 ME May 2017
**Source: The NPD Group, Inc. / Omnibus April 2017
About The NPD Group, Inc.
NPD is the leading global provider of market information and business solutions covering brick-and-mortar, e-commerce, and emerging channels in more than 20 industries. We combine our unique data assets with analytic solutions to help our clients measure performance, predict trends, and improve results, advising them to help drive successful growth. Practice areas include apparel, appliances, automotive, beauty, books, consumer electronics, diamonds, e-commerce, entertainment, fashion accessories, food consumption, foodservice, footwear, home, juvenile products, mobile, office supplies, retail, sports, technology, toys, travel retail, games, and watches / jewelry. For more information, visit npd.com. Follow us on Twitter: @npdgroup
Checkout TrackingSM provides detailed information on consumer buying behavior, based on receipts for both online and brick-and-mortar retail purchases from the same consumers over time. Checkout Tracking delivers precise category, brand, and item-level purchase detail linked to buyers and their demographics, useful for analyzing competitive market baskets and identifying purchase patterns. Information is collected from more than 50,000 consumers from NPD’s receipt-harvesting mobile phone app and the scanning of more than 4 million in-boxes for e-receipts through Slice Intelligence.
Janine Marshall, The NPD Group, http://www.npd.com, +1 (516) 625-2356, [email protected]
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